Pulling head for drapery pressing machine



Jan. 3, 1967 J. E. KLINT, JR 3,295,731

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jam. 3, 1%? J. E. KLiNT, JR 3,295,731

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1964 9 Sheeis$heet Z5 HHH Jan. 3, 19%? J. E. KLINT, JR

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 4 O QQ g wNw Jan. 3, 1967 .J. E. KLlNT, JR 3,295,731

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1964 9 Sheets-Sheet 5 ZZZ Jan. 3, 1967 J. E. KLINT, JR 3,295,733

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 @Zauza s Jan 3, 1967 J. E. KLINT, JR 3,295,731

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE 9 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Oct. 16, 1964 Jan... 3, 1967 J. E. KLINT, JR

PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Filed om. 16, 1964 9 Sheets-Shee t 9 JAWS CLOSED JAWS OPEN Mum JAWS CLOSED United States Patent Ofifice 3,295,731 Patented Jan. 3, 1967 3,295,731 PULLING HEAD FOR DRAPERY PRESSING MACHINE Joseph E. Klint, J12, Juliet, Ill., assignor of one-half to Alex Dreier, Chicago, Ill. Filed Oct. 16, 1964, Ser. No. 404,443 17 Claims. (Cl. 223-62) The present invention relates to drapery pleating and pressing machines of the general type shown and described in my copending United States patent application, Serial No. 137,882, filed on Sept. 13, 1961, now Patent No. 3,154,228, entitled Drapery Pleating and Pressing Machine, of which application the present one is a continuation-in-part.

Specifically, the present invention relates to a novel clamping and pulling head, together with actuating means therefor, the head being engageable with the usual group of stitched folds or pleats which invariably are provided along the upper marginal edge of an article of drapery, and thereafter being movable bodily along a longitudinal path in order to pull the article bodily and rearwardly through the machine and thus cause the trailing regions of the article to pass properly through the operative pressing and pleating instrumentalities which are disposed at a pressing and pleating station forwardly of the pulling head. During such pulling movement of the head, the pleating and pressing instrumentalities serve to fold and otherwise shape the article progressively and, by a steam saturating, stretching and ironing operation, smooth the article to its finished folded pleated condition.

Briefly, the clamping and pulling head, in one illustrated and early developed form thereof, specifically the form shown and described in my above-mentioned application, comprises a series of clamping elements and jaw members which are arranged in side-by-side fashion and in a transverse row, and which are adapted to be projected between adjacent stitched folds of the article of drapery along the upper marginal edge thereof. After such projection of the jaw members between the adjacent folds, means are provided whereby a collective squeezing operation is performed upon the entire group or row of jaw members, tending to compress them together so that adjacent jaw members constitute, in effect, cooperating clamping jaws which close upon the intervening material and securely clamp the same. The upper or forward marginal edge region of the article is thus securely anchored in the pulling head at multiple regions therealong and thereafter the entire clamping and pulling head, while maintaining its effective clamping position, is caused to travel rearwardly of the machine so as to pull the article of drapery bodily rearwardly and draw the trailing region of the article through the aforementioned pressing and pleating station.

It has been found that in connection with the abovedescribed form of clamping and pulling head, occasionally, due to a worn or otherwise faulty article of drapery, or due to improper insertion of a stitched fold between adjacent movable clamping jaw members, a given fold will fail to *be adequately clamped between adjacent jaw members so that when the head is shifted bodily rearwardly, such fold will be pulled from its anchorage in the head. This, of course, relieves the clamping pressure upon the remaining clamped folds, even if only momentarily and, due to the tension exerted upon the article of drapery while it is travelling r-earwardly and performing its operative pulling :function, other folds may slip from between adjacent clamping jaw members, thus causing further relief of clamping pressure upon the remaining folds. A chain reaction may then set in until the entire article is released by the clamping head or, alternatively, the uneven pull which is exerted upon the article by any but a full complement of cooperating clamping jaw members will cause the trailing region of the article to be unevenly pulled through the pleating and pressing instrument'alities and possible jamming of the machine.

Another limitation that is attendant upon the construction and use of the above-described form of pulling head resides in the fact that collective compression of the various clamping jaw members tends to shift the central pulling axis of the head to one side of the longitudinal center line of the path of travel of the article of drapery so that the mean pulling axis is offset from the true longitudinal axis of the article. Where a particularly wide article of drapery is concerned, such off-center pulling of the sa ine through the pressing and pleating station may result in the creation of pleats which are inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the article, or which are not truly parallel to one another.

Accordingly, in another and improved :form of clamping and pulling head, herein illustrated and described, adj acent clamping jaw members, instead of being collectively compressed, are individually actuated in pairs so that the effective clamping axis of each pair of adjacent clamping jaw members remains fixed. Thus, after the clamping operation and when the clamping head is moved bodily longitudinally and rearwardly of the machine to pull the trailing portion of the article through the pressing and pleating station, parallelism of the created pleats with one another and with the longitudinal axis of the article of drapery will be attained.

An additional advantage of the improved form of clamping and pulling head over the form illustrated in my copending application, above referred to, resides in the fact that the driving mechanism of the improved head is disposed wholly beneath the article-supporting table and is concealed within the confines of the side plates associated with the machine framework. Whereas in the earlier developed form of head a tractional drive is employed, utilizing a driving motor which is positioned above the article-supporting table and travels thereover in unison with the head, in the later developed form of clamping and pulling head the drive motor is stationary and is fixedly mounted in an out-of-the-way position beneath the table. Thus there is no danger of contamination of the articles of drapery undergoing pleating by oil which may be spilled on the table when servicing the motor or which may drip from the motor during operation thereof. Furthermore, by separating the motor from the head, the design of the head is greatly simplified, the over-all load is reduced, and wiring procedure utilizing conduitencased wires instead of flexible wires is simplified. Additionally, with the drive motor in an ou-t-of-the-way position, it is possible for the operators to remove the pleated articles from the machine endwise and rearwardly without interference by the motor, instead of having to remove the articles transversely across the machine table with the attendant danger of rumpling or otherwise disturbing the freshly ironed pleats which may not have become set due to the presence of residual moisture in the fabric.

The provision of a pulling head for drapery pleating and pressing machines of the character briefly outlined above being among the principal objects of the invention, various other objects and advantages of the invention, not at this time enumerated, will readily suggest themselves as the following description ensues.

In the accompanying nine sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, two illustrative embodiments of the invention have been shown.

In these drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a front perspective view of a pressing and pleating machine having incorporated therewith one form of clamping and pulling head embodying the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary rear perspective view of a portion of the pressing and pleating machine of FIG. 1 in the vicinity of the clamping and pulling head and illustrating specifically the driving mechanism for the head;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the vertical plane indicated by the line 3-3 of FIG. 2 and in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary exploded rear perspective view of a limited portion of the clamping and pulling head;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the vertical plane indicated by the line 66 of FIG. 2 and in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the machine table and showing the modified and improved form of clamping and pulling head operatively installed thereon, the clamping jaws associated therewith being shown in their closed position;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 88 of FIG. 7, but showing the clamping jaws in their open position;

FIG. 9 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially along the line 99 of FIG. 7, certain parts being broken away in the interests of clarity;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary exploded perspective view of the structure shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is an extended sectional View similar to FIG. 9 showing the jaws in their open position;

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the structure shown in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an enlarged elevational view taken substantially along the line 1313 of FIG. 7, with certain parts broken away 'to more clearly reveal the nature of the invention;

FIG. 14 is an enlarged elevational view taken substantially along the line 14-14 of FIG. 7; and

FIG. 15 is a pneumatic circuit diagram of certain control and actuating instrumentalities associated with the preferred form of clamping and pulling head.

Referring now to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 1, there has been disclosed in this view a drapery pleating and pressing machine of the general type shown and described in my above-mentioned copending application, Serial No. 137,882.

The machine has been designated in its entirety at and it is shown as having operatively installed therein as a component part thereof a drapery clamping and pulling head 22 such as has been shown and described in my copending application and which, in part, constitutes the subject matter of the present continuing application. The details of the drapery clamping and pulling head 22 have been illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive and will be described when the nature and functions of the machine 20 are better understood. The machine 10 also is capable of having operatively installed therein, in place of the head 22, an improved and modified form of drapery clamping and pulling head which has been illustrated in detail in FIGS. 7 to 14 inclusive and the nature of which will be set forth in detail presently and its operation described in conjunction with the pneumatic circuit diagram of FIG. 15.

For a full understanding of the nature and operation of the drapery machine 10, reference may be had to my above-mentioned application, Serial No. 137,882. However, for purposes of description herein and in order to attain a better understanding of the two forms of damp ing and pulling heads illustrated herein and which embody the principles of the present invention, it is pointed out briefly in connection with FIG. 1 that the machine 20 involves in its general organization a fixed horizontally disposed work-supportiug or operating table 24 mounted on legs 26 and disposed at a convenient operating level above the floor or other supporting surface. The forward re- .4 gion of the table 24 establishes a pressing and pleating station PS wherein an article of drapery is subjected to progressive operations to establish the desired pleats therein, while the rear region of the table establishes a pulling zone PZ wherein the pleated article issuing from the pressing and pleating station PS is pulled bodily rearwardly to draw the trailing regions thereof through the latter.

At the pressing and pleating station PS, there are provided upper and lower pressing assemblies 28 and 30, each assembly including a plurality of spaced apart parallel steam heated pressing tubes 32.' The lower pressing assembly 30 is fixed While the upper pressing assembly 28 is vertically shiftable under the control of a pneumatic piston and cylinder assembly 34. In the lowered position of the upper pressing assembly 28, the pressing tubes 32 of the two assemblies intei'digitate in such a manner as to maintain a serpentine cross sectional contour in the fabric material being pulled through the pressing and pleating station PS, while at the same time a series of upper rollers 36 cooperate with the tubes 32 of the lower pressing assembly, and a series of lower rollers 38 cooperate with the tubes 32 of the upper pressing assembly to iron, so to speak, the crests and troughs respectively of alternate pleats. Pleating depth is controlled by means of a vertically adjustable pleating rack 40, the elevation of which is adjusted by means of an electric motor M1 operating through a worm drive mechanism (not shown). The pleating rack 40 involves in its general organization a series of individually movable pleating loops 44 which are capable of being individually swung from the elevated positions in which they are shown in FIG. 1 through an angle of approximately so that they may be caused to enter between adjacent tubes 32 of the lower pressing assembly 30. The elevation of the pleating rack 40 determines the depth of pleating. Initially, with the fabric of the article of drapery interposed between the two pressing assemblies 28 and 30, and with the upper assembly 28 elevated, the pleating loops 44 may be consecutively swung to their lowered positions to effect an initial adjustment of the desired pleating, after which all of the pleating loops are restored to their raised positions in gang fashion and the upper pressing assembly lowered upon the lower press ing assembly preparatory to actuation of the clamping and pulling assembly 22 for the purpose of drawing the article of drapery bodily rearwardly to pull the trailing regions thereof through the thus positioned pleating and pressing instrumentalities at the pleating and pressing sta tion PS. During such movement of the article of drapery, the article is subjected to an atmosphere of steam under the influence of suitably disposed steam producing jets which issue from a steam header 46.

The arrangement of pressing and pleating instrumem talities thus far described constitute no part of the pres-* ent invention and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated with the same, the novelty of the present invention residing rather in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts associated with the clamping and pulling head 22 illustrated in further detail in FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive, and in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts associated with the improved clamping and pulling head illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive, both of which clamping and pulling heads will now be described in detail.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 to 6 inclusive, the pulling head 22 is operatively disposed upon a reciprocable carriage 50 Which is shiftable in opposite directions throughout substantially the entire longitudinal extent of the pulling zone PZ. As best seen in FIG. 2, a pair of upwardly extending guide rails 52 and 54 extend along the longitudinal side edges of the table 24. On the upper surface of the table 21 immediately inside of the guide rails 52 t and 54 are mounted in rigid relation a pair of racks 56' and 58 which extend a distance at least equal to the range of longitudinal movement of the carriage 50. The carri-age 50 comprises a base plate 60 having a pair of arms, one of which is shown at 62, extending forwardly on each side thereof. The forward end of each of these arms 62 is provided with a caster Wheel 64 which is adapted to roll on the upper surf-ace of the table 24 in supporting relationship. The rear end portions of the arms 62 are each provided with bearings 66 which underlie the base plate 60 and are in transverse alignment. Journalled for rotation in the bearings 66 is a transverse shaft 68 carrying pinions 70 and 72 which are supported upon and mesh with the racks 56 and 58 respectively. From the above description it will be seen that upon rotation of the transverse shaft 68, the pinions 70 and 72 will ride upon the racks 56 and 58 respectively and effect tractional movement of the carriage S0, and consequently of the clamping and pulling head 22, longitudinally of the table 24 and through the pulling zone PZ in either direction, depending upon the direction of rotation of the shaft 68. The guide rails 52 and 54 serve to confine the pinions 70 and 72 and thus prevent transverse shifting of the carriage 50 while angular turning movement of the carriage is precluded due to the fixed relationship of the pinions on the shaft 68.

Still referring to FIG. 2 and additionally to FIG. 6, an arm 74 projects rearwardly from the carriage 50 centrally thereof and serves to support a base plate 76 for an electric motor M2 and a cooperating gear reduction device 78. The output shaft 80 of the gear reduction device carries a pinion 82 which is operatively connected to a pinion 84 mounted on the transverse shaft 68 by means of a chain 86, thus establishing a drive for the shaft 68 from the motor M2. The electric motor M2 is of the reversible type and is operable under the control of a pair of control switches 88 and 90 suitably mounted within a control box 92 carried at the rear end of the arm '74, the former switch controlling the power supply to the motor M2 and the latter switch controlling the direction of rotation of the motor. A pedal operated switch 94 (FIG. 1) is operatively connected in the motor circuit and enables the operator to stop the travel of the carriage 50 in the event of an emergency. The electric circuit for the motor may be reestablished by means of a push button switch associated with a control panel 96 mounted on the machine framework at one side of the table 24. Additional electric controls for the motor M2 comprise a microswitch 98 mounted on the underneath side of the carriage 50 and engageable with abutments, only one of which appears at 99 in FIG. 6, and which are disposed on the table 24 adjacent the opposite ends thereof for automatically terminating the movement of the carriage when it reaches either end of its path of travel. After such stopping of the carriage, an additional push button switch is provided on the control panel 96 to restart the motor M2. Electric control instrumentalities and circuitry such as has briefly been outlined above are conventional and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated with the same.

The clamping head 22 involves in its general organization a pair of angle pieces 100 and 102 (FIG. secured at their ends to the arms 62 (FIG. 2) in cradle-like fashion. Nested between the two angle pieces 100 and 102 are a series of intermediate transversely shiftable clamping members 104 (FIGS. 4 and 5), a fixed end reaction clamping member 106, and a composite dualthickness end clamping member 108. The reaction clamping member 106 is welded or otherwise secured to the angle pieces 100 and 102 and also is secured thereto by clamping bolts 109 (FIGS. 3 and 5). The remaining clamping members 104 and 108 are loose and axially slidable within the cradle afforded by the two angle pieces.

A guide rod 110 has one end thereof fixedly secured in the clamping member 108 and projects axially of the angle pieces 100 and 102. The clamping members 104 are freely and floatingly slidable on this guide rod 110 by 6 means of bushings 112 (FIG. 4), while the guide rod 110, itself, is slidable in the clamping member 106 by means of a bushing 114. Adjacent clamping members 104, 106 and 108, as the case may be, are connected together by lost motion devices in the form of connecting plates 116 having pin and slot connections 118 with the associated clamping members.

The opposed faces of adjacent clamping elements 104, 106 and 108 constitute, in effect, clamping jaws which are adapted to engage therebetween the individual stitched and reinforced pleats which ordinarily are provided along the upper margin of conventional articles of drapery such as are employed for window draping purposes. The clamping members are collectively collapsible and extensible in the transverse direction of the work table 24 within the limits which are permitted by the lost motion devices 116, 118. When the clamping members are in their extended positions of separation, there is ample room between adjacent members for the operators to insert the stitched pleats between adjacent members, and when the members are in their collapsed position, the thus inserted pleats are securely clamped between adjacent clamping members.

Movement of the clamping members 104 and 108 into effective clamping engagement with one another and into elfective clamping engagement with the fixed reaction clamping member 106 is effected under the control of a ram 120 (FIG. 2) having a plunger 122 (FIG. 4) carrying a pressure applying plate 124 which is welded to composite dual-thickness clamping member 108. The ram is preferably of the reversible pneumatic type and may be operable from the control panel 96 by means of a suitable solenoid-actuated valve 126. When the ram plunger 122 is in its retracted position, the various movable clamping members 104 and 108 are drawn apart by the tension in the lost motion connecting plates 116 to the fullest extent permitted by such plates so that adjacent members are sutficiently separated as to permit insertion therebetween of the stitched folds of an article of drapery in the manner previously described. When the ram plunger 122 is in its advanced position, the pressure plate 124 will force the adjacent end clamping member 108 against the next adjacent clamping member 104 and a chain reaction will be set up through the entire group of movable clamping members 104 tending to clamp the intervening stitched folds or pleats of the article of drapery between the respective adjacent clamping members which straddle them. The force of this chain reaction clamping phenomenon will be assimilated by the end reaction clamping member 106 which, itself, will exert a clamping function on an adjacent fold.

The pneumatic control instrumentalities by means of which the ram 120 is actuated constitute no part of the present invention and no claim is made herein to any novelty associated with the same. Such control instrumentalities have been shown and described in my before mentioned copending application, Serial No. 137,882 and reference may be had to such application for a full understanding of the manner in which the ram 120, and consequently the clamping head 22 of the present application, is operated for drapery clamping and pulling purposes. The novelty of the present application consists rather of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts associated with the clamping and pulling head 22, hereinbefore described, and associated with the improved clamping head of FIGS. 7 to 14 inclusive and which will presently be described in detail and subsequently claimed. It is deemed sufficient to state herein that in the operation of the drapery pressing and pleating machine 20, after a given article of drapery has been applied to the clamping and pulling head 22 in the manner previously described, and the ram 120 actuated. to collectively compress the various clamping element members 104, 106 and 108 together and upon the intervening stitched and reinforced drapery folds or pleats, the carriage 50 is then caused to travel rearwardly over the table 24 and through the pulling zone PZ, thus drawing the entire article of drapery rearwardly so that the trailing portion thereof passes through the pressing and pleating station PS and becomes operated upon in the manner briefiy described herein and more fully described in my above-mentioned copending application Serial No. 137,882.

In order to accommodate the improved drapery clamping and pulling head which has been illustrated in FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive, the head-supporting carriage has been modified and, additionally, a different form of driving mechanism for causing the carriage to traverse the drapery pulling zone PZ has been employed. Still further, certain machine framework modifications have been resorted to, these consisting largely in providing means for shielding the operative carriage-driving mechanism which, in the main, is disposed beneath the work table in an out-ofthe-way position.

The improved clamping and pulling head has been designated in its entirety at 200 and the supporting carriage therefor at 282. It will be understood that this head and supporting carriage are associated with a pressing and pleating machine which is similar to the pressing machine 20 and in which the pressing and pleating instrumentalities at the pressing and pleating station re main unchanged. In the pulling zone however, the work table 204 is marginally reinforced by tubular structural members which extend longitudinally of the table on opposite sides thereof, one such member 206 being shown in FIG. 8. Similar transverse tubular members 207 (FIG. 13) underlie the work table 204 and bridge the distance between the side members 206. Many of the details of the stationary framework of the machine along one longitudinal edge of the work table 204 are identical, having identical counterparts along the other longitudinal edge and, therefore, a description of many of the elements shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 will sufiice for similar elements which are present along the other side of the machine and which have not been illustrated herein.

A pair of track rails 210 (FIGS. 8 and 13) extend longitudinally of the drapery pulling zone in the side regions thereof, these rails being secured to the upper face of the work table 204 by suitable anchoring blocks 212 which are secured to the table by screws 214. The head-supporting carriage 28-0 is tractionally supported upon the rails 210 by means of flanged traction wheels 215 in a manner that will be set forth presently. Sheet metal side plates 216 are secured to the tubular members 206 by screws 218 and are provided with upper inturned guard or shield portions 220 which overlie the rails 210 and carriage supporting traction wheels 215.

In the forward region of the drapery pulling zone, the work table is formed with clearance slots 222 (FIG. 8) for projection therethrough of a pair of idler sprockets 224 carried at the opposite ends of a transverse shaft 226 joumalled in bearings 228 which are bolted as at 230 to a stationary part 232 of the machine frame work. In the rear region of the drapery pulling zone, the work table is formed with clearance slots 234 for projection therethrough of a pair of driving sprockets 236 (FIG. 13) mounted on the opposite ends respectively of a drive shaft 238 journalled in bearings 248 bolted as at 242 to brackets 244 which are welded to the undeneath side of a pair of adjacent transverse tubular members 207. A pair of carriage-impelling chains 245 extend around the sprockets 224 and 236 at opposite sides of the work table 204 and have upper straight reach sections which are disposed at a level slightly above the level of the work table 204. Brackets 246 establish a driving connection between the upper reach sections of the chains and the carriage 202 in a manner that will be described presently. The shaft 238 is adapted to be driven by an electric motor M3 disposed beneath the work table 284, mounted on a crosspiece 246, and operating through a gear reduction device 248 and chain and sprocket connection 250 to effect rotation of the drive shaft 238 for the carriage 50. The motor M3 and gear reduction device 248, considered as a unit, are bolted as at 252 to one of the transverse tubular members 28 7. The motor M3 is of the reversible type and its operation may be controlled by suitable control switches (not shown) mounted either on the mova-ble carriage 50 or on the control panel of the machine, in which case the switches will be of the push button type.

The details of the improved clamping and pulling head 200 are best shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 inclusive. Whereas in connection with the clamping and pulling head 22 in the previously described form of the invention the various movable clamping members 184 and 188 are collectively compressed together and against the fixed reaction member 106 to engage the stitched folds or pleats of the article of drapery between adjacent members, in the improved clamping and pulling head 200 each movable clamping member has associated therewith its own individual fixed reaction clamping member. Therein lies the principal or basic difference between the two clamping and pulling heads 22 and 200.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the head-supporting carriage is comprised of a bottom plate 260 and a pair of substantially identical upstanding marginal side plates 262 and 264 secured thereto by screws 266. Each side plate is provided with a pair of longitudinally spaced outwardly projecting stub shafts 268 on which the traction wheels 215 are rotatably mounted. A control panel in the form of a flat rectangular plate 270 overlies a portion of'the carriage bottom plate 260 and is secured by screws 272 to the side plate 262, the panel serving to support thereon certain valve mechanism as will be described presently.

The previously mentioned brackets 246 are secured by screws 274 (FIG. 13) to the side plates 262 and 264 and are provided with laterally turned attachment fingers 276 by means of which the brackets, and consequently the entire carriage assembly 282, are secured to the chains 245 in driven relationship.

The drapery clamping and pulling head 200 involves in its general organization a series of transversely spaced fixed intermediate reaction or anvil jaw members 280 (FIGS. 7, l1 and 12) and a cooperating series of similarly spaced movable intermediate clamping pressure jaw members 282. The head further includes a composite fixed end jaw member 284 adjacent the carriage side plate 262 (FIG. 8) and a similar composite movable end jaw member 286 adjacent the carriage side plate 264 (FIGS. 9 and 11). The composite fixed jaw member 284 cooperates with the next adjacent intermediate movable jaw member 282 while the composite movable jaw member 286 cooperates with the next adjacent intermediate fixed jaw member 280.

As best seen in FIG. 10, and as further shown in FIGS. 8, 11 and 12, the fixed reaction jaw members 280 extend, like the rungs of a ladder, across and span the distance between a pair of comb-like side supports 290 having upstanding spaced anchor fingers 292 formed thereon in paired opposed relationship, and between which paired fingers the variou intermediate fixed reaction or anvil jaw members 280 extend and are anchored by means of fastening screws 294. The supports 290 are secured, as by welding, to the carriage side plates 262 and 264. A spacer strip 296 is secured at its ends to the carriage side plates 262 and 264, is coextensive with the tWo comb-like side supports 2% which are secured thereto by fastening screw 298, and underlies the entire series of fixed and movable jaw members 280 and 282, as well as the composite end jaw members 284 and 286. A transverse guide rod 300 (FIGS. 7, 10, 11 and 12) extends between the two carriage side plate 262 and 264 and has its opposite ends anchored therein by means of set screws 381 (FIG. 13). The movable intermediate pressure clamping jaw members 282 are slidably disposed upon the guide rod 300, the rod projecting through bores 302 formed in the jaw members. Each jaw member 282 i generally of Lshape design as best seen in FIG. and it includes a relatively thick rectangular base or block portion 304, from one edge of which there extends upwardly the clamping jaw proper 306. The movable clamping jaw members 232 are disposed within the open channel-like structure afforded by the spacer strip 2% and its two attached comb-like side supports 2%, the block portions 3% closely overlying the spacer strip 2% and the jaws proper 306 opposing respective fixed reaction or anvil jaw members 2813. The previously mentioned bores 302 through which the guide rod 331} extends are formed in the block portions 394 of the jaw members 282.

The composite movable end jaw member 236 is illustrated in detail in FIGS. 9 and 11. This composite jaw member is comprised of a generally L-shaped jaw support 311] similar in shape to the shape of the intermediate movable jaw members 232, and a spring biased floating jaw proper 312. The jaw support 311) is formed with a rectangular block portion 314 and an upstanding backing flange 316 for the floating jaw proper 312. The backing flange 316 is provided with a series of four holes 318 therein (see also FIG. 10) for slidable reception therein of respective lost motion pins 320 which are threadedly received in the floating jaw proper 312. The jaw proper 312 is normally maintained spaced from the adjacent face of the backing flange 316 by means of a pair of plunger assemblies 322, each of which includes a cup-shaped shell 324 threadedly received in an opening 326 provided in the backing flange 316 and held in position by a lock nut 328. A plunger 33% is slidable in the shell 324 and is spring pressed forwardly under the influence of a spring 332. The plungers 331} of the two assemblies 322 yieldingly bear against the floating jaw proper 312 and normally maintain the same spaced from the backing flange 316 to the limit permitted by the pins 320. The block portion 314 of the jaw support 311 is provided with a central bore 334 therein through which the guide rod 300 extends, the jaw support thus being slidable on the guide rod.

The composite fixed end jaw member 284 is best illustrated in FIG. 8. This composite jaw member is similar to the composite movable end jaw member 286 and it includes a backing member 34%) and a floating jaw proper 342. The backing member 340 is secured by screws 344 to the adjacent upstanding fingers 292 of the opposed side plates 291). Lost motion pins 346 and plunger assemblies 348 similar to the pins 321? and assemblies 322 serve yieldingly to maintain the floating jaw proper 342 spaced from the adjacent face of the backing member 340.

It is to be noted at this point that the entire series of movable jaw members including both the intermediate jaw members 282 and the composite end jaw member 285 are capable of being maintained in side-by-side con-- tiguity and they are so maintained under the influence of pneumatic pressure acting through the medium of a pair of actuating levers 356 and 352. When thus in con tiguity, the exposed end face 354 of the block portion of the jaw support 310 (FIG. 10) abuts against the opposed face 356 of the next adjacent movable jaw member 282. Similarly, the exposed end face 353 of each of the movable jaw members 282 abuts against the opposed face 356 of the adjacent movable jaw member. All of these movable jaw members thus collectively present a solid column of metal through the entire series of members and it is the function of the two levers 3511 and 352 to shift this solid column of metal in opposite directions to effect jaw opening and closing movements as will be made clear presently.

In FIGS. 11 and 12, the cooperating fixed and movable jaw members are shown as being in their open fabric-receiving position wherein the inoperative side face 356 of each movable jaw member 282 abuts against the inoperative side face 36% of an adjacent fixed jaw meniber 2811. The operative side faces, i.e. the jaw faces 362 and 364 of adjacent fixed and movable intefmediate jaw members 281) and 282 respectively remain spaced apart, thus establishing fabric-receiving gaps or voids 366 therebetween. A imilar gap 368 exists between the jaw faces of the floating jaw proper of the composite movable end jaw member 286 and of the adjacent fixed jaw mem ber 2813. Similarly, a gap 379 (FIG. 8) exists between the operative jaw faces of the floating jaw proper 342 of the composite fixed end jaw member 234 and of the adjacent movable jaw member 280.

The fully closed position of the various adjacent cooperating fixed and movable jaw members has been illustrated herein only in FIG. 1. Such a position is attainable only when the machine is not operating upon an article of drapery and it therefore is an abnormal position. In such closed position, the entire group of contiguous movable jaw members are shifted to the left as viewed in FIGS. 11 and 12 and as indicated by the arrows in these two views. The operating lever 352, acting on the L-shaped jaw support 310 of the composite movable jaw member 286, causes the block portion 314 of the latter to force the adjacent contiguous intermediate movable jaw member 282 to the left as viewed in FIGS. 7 and 8, and the entire transverse row of contiguous movable jaw members 28.2 are thus shifted bodily as a unit until such time as all of the clamping jaws proper 3% (FIG. 10) of the movable jaw members 232 abut against the fixed jaw members 280 and face-to-face engagement is attained between all opposed pairs of operative jaw faces 362 and 364. At such time, the floating jaw proper 312 (FIG. 9) is in engagement with the adjacent fixed jaw member 2811 and is thu pressed into face-to-face contact with the backing flange 316. Similarly, the floating jaw proper 3 12 (FIG. 8) is engaged by the adjacent movable jaw 282 and is pressed against the backing member 3413. The function of the two floating jaws proper 312 and 342 is to assimilate shock when no fabric is disposed in the fabric-receiving spaces 366 and 368 (FIG. 11) by cushioning any slamming action which otherwise would occur. As shown in FIG. 9, when the stitched folds 38d of an article of drapery 382 are inserted within the spaces or gaps 366 and 363 (FIG. 11) between opposed fixed and movable jaw members, when the jaw members are in their open positions, and the levers 350 and 352 are actuated to effect closing movements of the jaw members as previously described, the stitched folds 380 will be compressed between the various operative fabric-engaging jaw surfaces 362 and 364 and thus will be securely clamped so that upon subsequent rearward travel of the head-supporting carriage 50, the trailing regions of the article of drapery will be drawn through the pressing and pleating zone of the machine as described in connection with the form of the invention shown in FIG. 1.

The control instrumentalities for actuating the levers 35d and 352 to shift the movable intermediate jaw members Z82 and the composite movable end jaw member 28 5 are best seen in FIGS. 7, l4 and 15. As shown in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11, a pivot block 400 underlies each lever 35% and 352 and carries a pivot pin 402 by means of which the associated lever is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a vertical axis. The fulcrum points for pivotal movement of the levers are disposed in the medial regions of the levers and are positioned relatively close to the effective points of contact between the levers and the respective jaw members against which they hear. The lever 351i passes forwardly through a relief slot 4133 (FIG. 8) provided in the adjacent side support 290 and has its extreme forward end in sliding engagement with a wear plate 404- carried on the block portion 304 of the endmost movable jaw member 282 adjacent to the side plate 262 of the carriage 202. Similarly, the

lever 350 passes through a relief slot 406 (FIG. 12) on the side plate 262 adjacent to the side plate 254 and bears against a wear plate 408 (FIG. 11) mounted on the L- shaped jaw support 319 of the composite movable end jaw member 236. The rear ends of the two levers 359 and 352 are connected together by a transverse composite connecting rod 410 (FIGS. 7 and 8), suitable yoke fittings 41-2 being employed for effecting the pivotal connections between the rod and levers. The connecting rod 410 includes a link section 414 connected by a coupling 416 to a plunger section 418 carrying a piston 4219 which operates in a duel-ended reversely acting pneumatic cylinder 422 secured to the upper face of the work table 2%. Air lines 424 and 426 lead from the opposite ends of the cylinder 422 to certain control instrumentalities mounted on the control panel 279 and the nature of which will be made clear presently.

The composite connecting rod 410, in combination with the two levers 350 and 352 and the solid column of metal afforded by the abutting movable jaw members 282 and 286 of the clamping and pulling head 2M, establishes, in effect, an articulated parallelogram having short sides which are so pivoted for limited swinging movement that shifting of the connecting rod 410 in one direction will effect shifting of the movable jaw elements of the head 200 in the opposite direction with no lost motion taking place at any region in the parallelogram structure. I aw opening and closing movements therefore take place under the control of the connecting rod 410 and consequently of the pneumatic cylinder 4222.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 14, the control instrumentalities carried on the control panel or plate 270 includes a four-way directional valve VD having a control lever 428, and two normally closed push button line valves FBI and PB2. The three valves are operatively connected together in series relationship, the two push button line valves preferably, but not necessarily, preceding the directional valve. As shown in FIG. 15, it is necessary for an operator of the machine to actuate both of the normally closed push button valves P81 and PB2 before it is possible to shift the movable jaws 232 of the clamping and pulling head 200 in either direction. This is a precautionary measure to avoid inadvertent shifting of the movable jaws 282 in either direction 'unless there is a deliberate attempt on the part of the operator to so shift the jaws. As a further precaution, the two valves P131 and PB2 are so disposed and widely separated on the control panel 270 that both hands must be employed for the simultaneously actuation of both valves.

Assuming now that the various cooperating fabricclamping jaws of the clamping and pulling head 2% are in their open condition as shown in full lines in the pneumatic circuit diagram of FIG. 15, upon simultaneous actuation of the two valves FBI and PB2, a pneumatic circuit will extend from the source S of air under pressure through push button valve PBl, line 11, push button valve PB2, line 13, directional valve VD, and line to the left hand end of the control cylinder 4-22 as viewed in FIG. 15, thus shifting the piston 4-20, and consequently the connecting rod 410 to the right and reversing the position of the movable jaw elements 282 so that the various clamping jaws of the head 200 assume their closed condition. At the same time, air is discharged from the pneumatic system from the right hand end of the cylinder 422 through line 17, control valve VD and line 19. The circuit for restoring the movable jaw members 282 to their initial jaw opening position extends from the source S, through push button valve =PB1, line 11, push button valve PB2, line 13, directional valve VD, and line 17 to the right hand end of the cylinder 422 as viewed in FIG. 15. Air is exhausted from the cylinder 422 through line 15, directional valve VD and line 19.

From the above description it is believed that the na ture, operation and many advantages of the improved clamping and pulling head 200 of the present invention will, to a large extent, be readily understood. For a complete understanding of the operation of the head 2% it is pointed out briefi-y that when the jaws of the head Zilil are in their open condition, the various stitched folds of fabric at the upper edge of an article of drapery to be treated are inserted into the gaps or spaces 3'65 and 368 (FIG. 11) existing between the various pairs of separated jaws in the manner previously described in connection with the operation of the head 22, and thereafter the control lever of the directional valve VD is shifted to the full line position thereof as seen in FIGS. 7 and 15, after which the two push button line valves FBI and PB2 are simultaneously depressed, thus shifting the row of movable jaw members 282 to their clamping positions as previously described and closing the various fabric engaging jaws upon the stitched folds.

It is to be particularly noted at this point that the maximum amplitude of the stroke of the piston 4-20 within the control cylinder 4-22 is greater than the effective stroke of the piston as limited by possible jaw movement of the head zen so that, regardless of the position of the movable jaw members 286, compression is exerted upon the solid row of such members and at no time is there any lost motion in the parallelogram linkage system which includes the control rod 419 and actuating levers 350 and 352. The cooperating fabric-clamping jaws thus positively grip the fabric therebetween under pneumatic pressure during the drapery pulling operation when the carriage 202 traverses the pulling zone and draws the trailing regions of the article through the pressing and pleating zone.

The invention is not to be limited to the exact arrangement of parts shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification as various changes in the details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention. The forms of the invention illustrated herein, and particularly the form shown in FIGS. 7 to 14 inclusive, are only forms which have been developed for commercial application of the invention. Therefore, only insofar as the invention has particularly been pointed out in the accompanying claims is the same to be limited.

I claim:

1. In a fabric pleating and pressing machine, a multiple clamping and pulling head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a pleated fabric article at one end thereof, said clamping head comprising an elongated base support, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members slidable axially upon said base support and including a fixed reaction end jaw member adjacent one end of the support, a movable end jaw member adjacent the other end of the support, and a plurality of intermediate jaw members disposed between the two end jaw members, the jaws of alternate pairs of adjacent jaw members being relatively movable toward and away from each other between proximate closed fold-clamping and remote open fold-releasing positions, a movable pressure-applying element engageable with said movable end jaw member, power-actuated means for effecting movement of said pressureapplying element to move said movable end jaw member toward the fixed reaction jaw member, said movable end jaw member, when thus moved, being effective to cause relative movement between adjacent jaw members of said alternate pairs tending to move them toward the proximate closed positions thereof, carriage means for said base support mounted for movement along a predetermined path relative to said pleating and pressing machine, and means for driving said carriage means along said path.

2. In a fabric pleating and pressing machine, a multiple clamping head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a pleated fabric article at one end thereof, said clamping head comprising an elongated channel-shaped base support having a flat bottom wall and upstanding marginal side flanges, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members disposed within said base support between said side flanges and including a fixed reaction end jaw member secured to said side flanges adjacent one end of the base support, a movable end jaw member adjacent the other end of the base support, and a plurality of intermediate jaw members disposed between the end jaw members, adjacent jaw members being relatively movable toward and away from each other between proximate closed fold-clamping and remote open foldreleasing positions, a movable pressure-applying element engageable with said movable end jaw member, power-actuated means for effecting movement of said pressure-applying element to move said movable end jaw member toward the fixed reaction jaw member, said movable end jaw member, when thus moved, being efiective to cause relative movement between adjacent jaw members tending to move them toward the proximate closed positions thereof, carriage means for said base support mounted for movement along a predetermined path relative to said pleating and pressing machine, and means for driving said carriage means along said path.

3. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a stationary end clamp element and a laterally spaced movable end clamp element, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in side-by-side relation, said stationary clamp element being secured to said base member and all of said elements having a bore therethrough aligned with a common axis, a guide rod having one end secured to said movable end clamp element and extending through the bores of the remaining elements in slidable relation, a pin projecting from each end of each of said elements and normal to said common axis, a plurality of lost motion links each slidably connecting the pins of each of said elements with the pins of an adjacent element in lost motion relation, and a two-way ram mounted on said base member having its work member secured to said movable end clamp element, whereby said ram when energized expansively moves said movable end clamp and said intermediate clamp elements progressively in one direction toward said stationary end clamp element to closed position, and when said ram is energized retractively it moves said movable end clamp element in the opposite direction thereby progressively moving said clamp elements into open spaced relation with each other for providing an opening between each element and its adjacent element limited only by said lost motion links.

4. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a stationary end clamp element and a laterally spaced movable end clamp element, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in side by side relation, said stationary clamp element being secured to said base member and all of said elements having a bore therethrough aligned with a common axis, a guide rod having one end secured to said movable end clamp element and extending through the bores of the remaining elements in slidable relation, a pin projecting from each end of each of said elements and normal to said common axis, a plurality of lost motion links each slidably connecting the pins of each of said elements with the pins on an adjacent element in lost motion relation, and power means mounted on said base member and positioned to move said movable end clamp element along said common axis, whereby when said power means is energized in one direction it moves said movable end clamp and said intermediate clamp elements progressively in one direction toward said stationary end clamp element to closed position, and when said power means is energized in the opposite direction it moves said movable end clamp element in said opposite direction thereby progressively moving said clamp elements into open spaced relation with each other for providing an 14 opening between each element and its adjacent element limited only by said lost motion links.

5. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a stationary end clamp element secured thereto and a laterally spaced movable end clamp element, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in normally spaced side-by-side relation, said elements each having a bore therethrough aligned with a common axis, a guide rod having one end secured to said movable end clamp element and extending through the bores of all of the remaining elements in slidable relation therewith, a pin projecting from each end of each of said elements and normal to said common axis, a plurality of lost motion links each slidably connecting the pins of each of said elements with the pins on an adjacent element in lost motion relation, and means for moving said movable end clamp element along said common axis, whereby movement of said movable end clamp element in one direction toward said stationary end clamp element progressively moves said intermediate clamp elements toward each other in closed clamping relation and movement of said movable clamp element in the opposite direction moves progressively said elements into laterally spaced relation to provide an opening between each element and the next adjacent element limited only by said lost motion links.

6. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a stationary end clamp element secured thereto and a laterally spaced movable end clamp element, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in normally spaced side-by-side relation, said elements each having a bore therethrough aligned with a common axis, a guide rod having one end secured to said movable end clamp element and extending through the bores of the remaining elements in slidable relation, lost motion means slidably connecting each clamp element with its next adjacent elements, and means for moving said movable end clamp element along said common axis, whereby movement of said movable end clamp element in one direction toward said stationary clamp element moves each of said clamp elements successively toward closed position with respect to the next adjacent element, and movement of said movable end clamp element in the other direction moves said elements successively into open spaced relation to provide an opening between each element and its adjacent element limited only by said lost motion means.

7. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a stationary end clamp element secured thereto and a laterally spaced movable end clamp element, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in normally spaced apart side-by-side relation, guide means for maintaining said clamp elements in slidable alignment along a common axis, lost motion means connecting each element with its next adjacent elements for limiting the movement of said elements away from each other, and means for moving said movable end clamp along said common axis whereby movement of said movable end clamp element in one direction moves said intermediate clamp elements successively toward closed position with respect to the next adjacent element and movement of said movable end clamp element in the other direction moves said clamp elements successively into spaced relation with each other to provide openings between each element and the next adjacent elements limited only by said lost motion means.

8. A clamping head comprising a base member supporting a pair of end clamp elements in laterally spaced relation along a common axis, a plurality of intermediate clamp elements disposed between said end clamp elements in spaced apart side-by-side relation, guide means for slidably maintaining said clamp elements in alignment with said common axis, lost motion means connecting each clamp element with its next adjacent elements and limiting their spaced apart relation, one of said end clamp elements being fixed to said base member, and means for moving the other of said end clamp elements along said common axis toward and away from the one element whereby said intermediate clamp elements are caused to close with each other successively when movement of said other end clamp element is in one direction and said intermediate clamp elements are caused to open away from each other when movement of said other end clamp element is in the opposite direction.

9. A multiple clamping head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a pleated fabric article, said clamping head comprising an elongated base support, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members disposed upon said base support and arranged in a row extending axially of the support, the jaw members of one series of alternate jaw members and including one end jaw member in the row being fixedly secured to the support, the jaw members of the other series of alternate jaw members and including the other end jaw member in the row being slidable axially on the support toward and away from the next adjacent fixed jaw member on the side thereof which faces said one fixedly secured end jaw member, the opposing faces of the slidable jaw members of said other series and their respective adjacent fixed jaw members establishing opposed fold-engaging clamping jaws movable between open and closed positions, thrust means extending between each slidable jaw member of said other series and the next adjacent slidable jaw member in the series for transmitting motion from said slidable jaw member to said next adjacent slidable jaw member and vice versa, pressure-applying means yieldingly engageable with said other slidable end jaw member and the slidable jaw member next adjacent the fixed jaw member for clamping said slidable jaw members and thrust means together in end-to-end relationship for movement bodily in unison, and means for selectively displacing said pressure-applying means axially of the base support and in opposite directions to effect corresponding sliding movement of the movable jaw members and thrust means.

10. A multiple clamping head as set forth in claim 9, wherein said thrust means comprises a rigid thrust member on each movable jaw member and one next adjacent slidable jaw member.

11. A multiple clamping head as set forth in claim 9, wherein said thrust means comprises a rigid thrust member on each movable jaw member and the next adjacent slidable jaw member on the side thereof facing said fixed jaw member.

12. A multiple clamping head as set forth in claim 9, wherein said pressure-applying means comprises a first lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said base support and having one end thereof bearing against said other end jaw member, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said base support and having one end thereof bearing against the slidable jaw member next adjacent the fixed jaw member, a thrust rod extending between the other ends of said levers, and means for shifting said thrust rod substantially axially in opposite directions.

13. A multiple clamping head as set forth in claim 12, wherein said means for shifting the thrust rod comprises a piston mounted on the thrust rod, a pneumatic cylinder operatively encompassing a portion of the thrust rod and the piston and within which the piston is slidable, and means for selectively supplying air to the opposite ends of the cylinder to actuate the piston.

14. A multiple clamping head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a pleated fabric article, said clamping head comprising an elongated base support, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members disposed upon said base support and including a fixed reaction end jaw member adjacent one end of the support, a movable end jaw member adjacent the other end of the support and slidable axially upon the support in opposite directions, and a plurality of intermediate jaw members disposed between the two end jaw members, the jaw members of one series of alternate intermediate jaw members and including the jaw member once removed from said fixed end jaw member being fixedly secured to said base support, the jaw members of the other series of alternate intermediate jaw members being slidable axially on said support in opposite directions, means effective to cause sliding movement of the jaw members of said other series of alternate intermediate jaw members and the movable end jaw member bodily as a unit whereby each movable jaw member is movable toward and away from an adjacent fixedly secured jaw member in clamping relationship therewith for fold-engaging and fold-releasing purposes, and a floating fold-engaging pad mounted for limited sliding movement on said movable end jaw member toward and away from the next adjacent fixed jaw member, and spring means yieldingly urging said pad toward said latter fixed jaw member.

15. A multiple clamping head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a pleated fabric article, said clamping head comprising an elongated base support, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members disposed upon said base support and including a fixed reaction end jaw member adjacent one end of the support, a movable end jaw member adjacent the other end of the support and slidable axially upon the support in opposite directions, and a plurality of intermediate jaw members disposed between the two end jaw members, the jaw members of one series of alternate intermediate jaw members and including the jaw member once removed from said fixed end jaw member being fixedly secured to said base support, the jaw members of the other series of alternate intermediate jaw members being individually slidable axially on said support in opposite directions toward and away from an adjacent fixed jaw member, thrust means extending between each jaw member of said other series of alternate intermediate slidable jaw members and the next adjacent slidable jaw member in the series for transmitting motion from said jaw member to said next adjacent jaw member and vice versa, pressure-applying means yieldingly engageable with said movable end jaw member and the slidable intermediate jaw member next adjacent to said fixed reaction jaw member and effective to compress said movable end jaw member and slidable intermediate jaw members of said other series together for sliding movement in unison, and means for selectively displacing said pressure-applying means axially of the base support and in opposite directions to effect corresponding sliding movement of the movable end jaw member, thrust means, and slidable intermediate jaw members.

16. A multiple clamping head as set forth in claim 15, wherein said pressure-applying means comprises a first lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said base support and having one end thereof bearing against said movable end jaw member, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said base support and having one end thereof bearing against the movable intermediate jaw member furthest removed from said movable end jaw member, a thrust rod extending between the other ends of said levers, and means for shifting said thrust rod substantially axially in opposite directions.

17. A multiple clamping head for effecting clamping engagement of adjacent longitudinally extending transversely spaced folds of a fabric article, said head comprising an elongated generally channel shape base support including a flat horizontal bottom wall and upstanding parallel marginal side walls, a horizontal guide rod disposed within said base support between the side walls and overlying said bottom wall in spaced relationship, a series of cooperating clamping jaw members disposed within said base support and arranged in a row extending axially of the support, means fixedly securing the jaw members of one series of alternate jaw members and including one end jaw member in the row to said side walls, the jaw members of the other alternate series and including the other end jaw member in the row being provided with aligned bores therethrough and through which said guide rod extends whereby said latte-r jaw members are axially slidable on the guide rod in guided relationship toward and away from the next adjacent fixed jaw member on the side thereof which faces said one jaw member, the opposed faces of the slidable jaw members of the other series and their respective adjacent fixedly secured jaw members respectively establishing opposed fold-engaging clamping jaws movable between open fold-releasing and closed fold-clamping positions, each slidable jaw member being provided with a thrust member in the lower regions thereof projecting axially therefrom beneath the next adjacent fixedly secured jaw member in the direction of said one end jaw member and engageable with the next adjacent slidable jaw memher for transmitting motion to and receiving motion from such jaw member, and a pair of jaw shifting elements engageable with said other end jaw member and with the slidable jaw member next adjacent to said one jaw member and movable in unison in opposite directions for effecting shifting of said movable jaw members.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,837,257 6/1958 Gibson et al. 223 -30 2,921,725 1/1960 DiTorrice 223 3o 3,058,634 10/1962 Wieneke 223-28 3,154,228 10/1964 Klint 223 32 JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

G. V. LARKIN, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A FABRIC PLEATING AND PRESSING MACHINE, A MULTIPLE CLAMPING AND PULLING HEAD FOR EFFECTING CLAMPING ENGAGEMENT OF ADJACENT LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY SPACED FOLDS OF A PLEATED FABRIC ARTICLE AT ONE END THEREOF, SAID CLAMPING HEAD COMPRISING AN ELONGATED BASE SUPPORT, A SERIES OF COOPERATING CLAMPING JAW MEMBERS SLIDABLE AXIALLY UPON SAID BASE SUPPORT AND INCLUDING A FIXED REACTION END JAW MEMBER ADJACENT ONE END OF THE SUPPORT, A MOVABLE END JAW MEMBER ADJACENT THE OTHER END OF THE SUPPORT, AND A PLURALITY OF INTERMEDIATE JAW MEMBERS DISPOSED BETWEEN THE TWO END JAW JAW MEMBERS, THE JAWS OF ALTERNATE PAIRS OF ADJACENT JAW MEMBERS BEING RELATIVELY MOVABLE TOWARD AND AWAY FROM EACH OTHER BETWEEN PROXIMATE CLOSED FOLD-CLAMPING AND REMOTE OPEN FOLD-RELEASING POSITIONS, A MOVABLE PRESSURE-APPLYING ELEMENT ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID MOVABLE END JAW MEMBER, POWER-ACTUATED MEANS FOR EFFECTING MOVEMENT OF SAID PRESSUREAPPLYING ELEMENT TO MOVE SAID MOVABLE END JAW MEMBER TOWARD THE FIXED REACTION JAW MEMBER, SAID MOVABLE END JAW MEMBER, WHEN THUS MOVED, BEING EFFECTIVE TO CAUSE RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN ADJACENT JAW MEMBERS OF SAID ALTERNATE PAIRS TENDING TO MOVE THEM TOWARD THE PROXIMATE CLOSED POSITIONS THEREOF, CARRIAGE MEANS FOR SAID BASE SUPPORT MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH RELATIVE TO SAID PLEATING AND PRESSING MACHINE, AND MEANS FOR DRIVING SAID CARRIAGE MEANS ALONG SAID PATH. 